Phillip continued: "Ant has now gone back into rehab, but he loves Dec and he loves their career and their fans.”

But making it clear he understood the severity of the situation, he added: “No matter who you are, no matter what you do, if you get into the car after having a drink the responsibility is entirely yours. We wish Ant and all those involved the best.”

The Sun exclusively revealed that Ant, 42, had been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving on Sunday.

We reported how the Geordie telly veteran was “agitated and argumentative” with a policewoman as she arrested him.

He was held in police custody for more than ten hours before being released under investigation and returning to his home in the early hours Monday morning.

Yesterday it was revealed that Ant was going back to rehab and this weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Takeaway had been cancelled.